How Long Does A Typical Garage Door Opener And Motor Last?

A typical garage door opener should last 15 years. It’s not uncommon for them to last longer, especially if properly maintained, but 15 years is a good guideline.

How Much Does A Standard Garage Door Tuneup Cost And What Does It Include?

A garage door and opener servicing generally costs between $120-$150, but many companies will run door service specials periodically for less than $100.  

Routine garage door and opener service typically includes a comprehensive inspection of panels, hinges, bearing, cables, drums, track and opener for any irregularities. This also typically includes re-tensioning the springs for proper balance as well as making any adjustments to the door to make things run as smoothly as possible. A garage door technician should also check the opener limits and sensitivity to ensure safe operation.

How often should a garage door be maintained and why is routine maintenance important?

Garage door professional, Louis Wilson, of Ascent Garage Doors recommends that garage doors should be serviced annually or at least every other year in order to maintain proper spring balance and make sure there isn’t any progressive failure of components that could cause larger problems. 

Many people don’t realize it, but a garage door is the largest moving part of a home and can present safety issues if not properly serviced. Regular service greatly reduces the risk of large problems with your door coming off track, getting stuck, or even panels falling, which is a huge safety hazard.

How To Determine The Age Of HVAC Equipment

Determining the age of HVAC systems and water heaters is generally a bit more complicated than simply looking at the equipment data plate and finding a manufacturing date. Most manufacturers use a date code that is represented in the serial number. Because each manufacturer has a different date code system, you will need to reference the Building Intelligence Center HVAC and Water Heater Index. This is a great tool and resource to have bookmarked for quick reference as needed. We have provided a link below for your reference.

https://www.building-center.org/

AS A REMINDER, THE EXPECTED SERVICE LIFE FOR THE MOST COMMON HOME SYSTEMS ARE LISTED BELOW:

FURNACE - 25 years

A/C - 15 years

BOILER - 30 years

WATER HEATER - 12 years

These estimated service lives are per industry standards. Actual equipment service life may vary

Why Does My New Oven Smell Like Burning Plastic?

Why Does My New Oven Smell Like Burning Plastic?

You may be wondering why your new oven is smoking and giving off a strong burnt plastic or chemical smell upon initial operation. If so, you are not alone. The good news is that this burning smell and smoking process is completely normal for new ovens. In fact, if you read your appliance manual, you will see that this is addressed in the manual and is commonly referred to as the “burn in” period.

Smoke coming from a new oven upon initial operation

What is “burn in”? 

Your new oven is being exposed to high temperatures for the very first time. During this initial exposure to heat, oils used in the manufacturing process are being burnt off and the insulation enclosure is emitting an odor as it heats up. Typically this burn in process takes around an hour, but can take more or less time depending on the specific appliance. 

Please note that all appliances should be free of any packaging before they are used for the first time. If packaging materials are not removed, you may actually be smelling burning plastic which you do not want so be sure to clean the oven out before initial use. Also, it’s important to note that you should cycle your oven through the burn in phase before you use it for cooking. During the burn in phase, make sure that your kitchen is properly ventilated so that chemicals and odors are exhausted to the exterior. If burning smells persist after the burn in period, please stop use of the appliance and contact the manufacturer for further troubleshooting.